With figures showing that consumer spending is tightening while new car prices are going up, new research from a novated lease provider reveals how far Aussies will go to get a better price on a car. A whopping per cent of people researched will haggle, downsize, downgrade or compromise to fork out less for a new car. 

The findings were derived from a survey of an independent panel of 1010 Australians commissioned by Novated Lease Australia, a novated lease provider helping Australian motorists access the many benefits that novated leasing has to offer. The full survey results, including age and State breakdowns, can be found here: novatedleaseaustralia.com.au/research/save-on-car-purchases-in-fy24 

In what will be unwelcome news for dealerships, Novated Lease Australia found that 40 per cent of respondents, if they were in the market for a car, would negotiate on the advertised price. More than a quarter (27 per cent) would only buy during a sale. One quarter (25 per cent) would not pay for extra features, while an equal 18 per cent would choose a cheaper brand or avoid the premium model in the range. A quarter (24 per cent) would buy a demo or a smaller car. Nearly one third (31 per cent) would choose a used car. However, only 8 per cent of survey respondents would get a novated lease through a salary sacrifice arrangement with their employer, despite the potential significant cost savings. 

Shaun McGowan, Founder and Managing Director of Novated Lease Australia, explains how the lack of knowledge on novated leases could be preventing Aussies from saving thousands of dollars. “With a novated lease, drivers can save money on GST and income tax, and they don’t have to pay the full cost outright. Plus, by novating an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid – up to the luxury car tax threshold – employers won’t be subject to fringe benefits tax. 

“For example, the Tesla Model 3, now Australia’s most popular EV, can have a weekly net cost of less than $200pw for someone on a $65k salary, which is on par with the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Yet it is deliverable within 3-8 weeks, whereas there could be a 12 to 18 month wait for the Corolla. There’s an awful lot of savings for both drivers and their employers through a novated lease arrangement, without having to compromise on the age or spec of the vehicle.”

A closer look at the data reveals that cost saving preferences varies according to gender and age. Older Australians are keen to negotiate on cost, with 44 per cent of over-50s reporting so, compared with 39 per cent of 31-50s and 33 per cent of 18-30s. 

Women are more likely than men to purchase a used car, with 35 per cent of female respondents choosing this option, compared with 26 per cent of men. Younger drivers are also more willing to buy a used car: this option was by 38 per cent of 18-30s, compared with 31 per cent of 31-50s and 27 per cent of over-50s.  

The survey also found that if in the market for a second-hand car, over a quarter (26 per cent) of Aussies would purchase a car between 3-4 years old, in a bid to get a more affordable vehicle. Further to this, one in ten Aussies (10 per cent) were willing to get a car 9-10 years old to be able to afford it. 

With the survey results in mind, it’s easy to comprehend that Aussies are considering alternative ways to purchase cheaper, or more cost effective, vehicles.  

Last year, Australia’s car industry delivered a total of 1,081,429 new vehicles to drivers around the country, despite post-pandemic supply chain challenges and delivery delays.^[1] SUVs and light commercials accounted for 76.8 per cent of car sales in 2022, suggesting that the majority of purchases were for business and trade purposes.^[2]

Shaun points out that there’s an opportunity for both the business and its employees to save money through novated leasing. “Looking at car sales from last year, it’s clear that – despite purse strings tightening – Aussies are prioritising purchasing a vehicle that offers a commercial or business purpose too. If a salesman needs a car to travel for work, it’s non-negotiable, so if they need to make the purchase, they should explore whether they can get a novated lease through their employer. Which offers cost savings for themselves, and their business too.”

The full survey results, including age and State breakdowns, can be found here: novatedleaseaustralia.com.au/research/save-on-car-purchases-in-fy24

EPOS, the global audio brand, today announces that the IMPACT 1000, an on-ear, future-proof Bluetooth® headset, is available for purchase. Designed for professionals who value clear communication, the IMPACT 1000 ensures all meeting participants can stay focused – even in noisy environments.

Today, professionals can often work from anywhere, at any time. This ‘New Open Office’ dynamic brings with it multiple distractions and ambient noises – making it challenging for employees to stay engaged and perform to the best of their abilities. Using pioneering technologies and user-friendly features, the award-winning IMPACT 1000 is the first headset of its kind designed to address the critical, everyday challenges posed by this new modern work environment.

EPOS develops audio and video solutions that are backed by science. Building on decades of leading psychoacoustic research, the company’s latest scientific research study sought to evaluate the potential benefits of noise attenuation, or noise reduction, in audio devices, while people performed a dual task consisting of understanding speech while reacting to a visual task. The results of the study indicate that noise attenuation, such as the hybrid adaptive ANC in IMPACT 1000 headsets, provides several benefits for participants when performing a dual task is required, including 67% less listening effort and 48% better recognition of speech in a noisy environment. By minimising the brain effort spent on listening and understanding the elements of a conversation the IMPACT 1000 optimises user efficiency by up to 40%, unlocking new levels of productivity and performance. Leveraging insights such as these, EPOS develops machine learning technologies such as those in the IMPACT 1000 to help end-users’ brains better process and understand audio stimuli.

Powered by EPOS’ BrainAdapt™ Technology and Backed by Psychoacoustic Research

Workers everywhere often find themselves multitasking without even realising it. However, juggling multiple tasks can be difficult, and sometimes professionals will need to prioritise one task over another to maintain a level of performance. Human cognitive capacity is inherently limited, and when we prioritise one task, it reduces the resources available for others. For instance, when we underestimate the additional cognitive resource required for understanding speech in a challenging audio environment, we also underestimate the impact on the brain to carry out other tasks effectively.

As part of its ongoing mission to enable seamless communication for today’s enterprise professionals EPOS has built on its BrainAdapt™ technology offering to address these issues. EPOS develops solutions that support the brain’s natural way of processing sound and enhances the cognitive performance of professionals everywhere. Leveraging powerful, world-leading technologies, the hybrid adaptive ANC in IMPACT 1000 enhances a user’s ability to perform when conducting Dual Tasks, wherever they are.

• Powered by EPOS’ BrainAdapt™ technology – BrainAdapt™ is a group of pioneering technologies that work together to improve cognitive performance. IMPACT 1000 features EPOS BrainAdapt^™ technology to reduce brain fatigue with hybrid adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and industry-leading voice pickup powered by EPOS AI^™.
• Uses EPOS AI™ to adapt to environments – Machine learning technology scans user environments 32,000 times per second to suppress disruptive sounds and enhances desirable audio to ensure only the relevant sounds are filtered through to the person the user is talking to.
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) – Featuring hybrid adaptive ANC, the IMPACT 1000 ensures unwanted background sounds are blocked out to enable undisturbed conversation and reduced brain fatigue.

Recognised for its Design Excellence

Designed for comfort, the IMPACT 1000 offers users all-day wearing comfort with a lightweight design, soft cushions, headband padding, and Super Wideband for natural sound. Users can enjoy total ease of use with a contactless charging stand, intuitive on-headset controls, and a suite of smart features.

Additionally, triple Bluetooth connectivity lets users stay connected to three devices at the same time to enable movement while on a call. Talk Through features allow users to communicate with colleagues without removing the headset while the 360 busy light signals when users are on a call. 

Recognising its intuitive, innovative, and customer-led design the IMPACT 1000 was awarded iF Design Award Gold as well as a Red Dot Design Award. These prestigious and globally renowned accolades are awarded to products of the highest calibre and represent outstanding examples of design excellence and innovation.

Theis Mørk, VP Product Management at EPOS says: “As the complexities of the modern work-scape continue to evolve so too must the solutions that we use to ensure productivity and communication. Backed by world-leading psychoacoustic data, the IMPACT 1000 is a trailblazing innovation for professionals and businesses operating in the New Open Office environment. Communication is at the core of business success and it’s integral that leaders think intentionally about how they are optimising the potential of technology solutions to empower their employees. Doing so will help improve productivity, accuracy, and efficiency.”

IMPACT 1000 is certified for Microsoft Teams and meets the Open Office requirements.  Click here for further information about the IMPACT 1000.  

RRP: Prices start from $485.00 AUD 

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows crime is on the rise, with the number of break-ins increasing for the first time in more than a decade.[1] The growing rate of unauthorised home access presents a major concern for many residents and homeowners, especially as travel continues to return to pre-pandemic levels. Residents want to keep their property and family safe, and many Australians are increasingly turning to home security solutions, including cameras, to help provide an added layer of protection and achieve greater peace of mind.

To keep Australians and their businesses safe and secure, Uniden Australia is offering bonus solar panels to customers who purchase eligible Uniden App Cam SOLO Pro 2K wirefree security cameras from 1 June to 31 December 2023. Each customer who purchases an eligible product can receive an additional solar panel per camera, with up to four solar panels available via redemption, subject to terms and conditions.

Brad Hales, national marketing communications manager, Uniden Australia, said, “Year-round home security is top of mind for many Australians, and keeping families and business properties safe and secure is essential. Uniden Australia is committed to enhancing home security and safety, and increasing the value of its outdoor wirefree home security solutions, by offering bonus solar panels across the App Cam SOLO Pro 2K range to help increase uptime and availability of the cameras.”

The following products are eligible for the Uniden bonus solar panel offer:

• Uniden App Cam SOLO Pro 2K (single pack) – eligible for one bonus solar panel (RRP $99.95 Bonus Value)
• Uniden App Cam SOLO Pro 2K (twin pack) – eligible for two bonus solar panels (RRP $199.90 Bonus Value)
• Uniden App Cam SOLO Pro 2K (quad pack) – eligible for four bonus solar panels (RRP $399.80 Bonus Value)

Brad Hales said, “The App Cam SOLO Pro 2K home security camera range is an ideal wirefree security solution for every Australian small business. The cameras can withstand exposure to the elements, and continuously and reliably capture footage with a 120-degree wide viewing angle. Each camera is solar-powered compatible, ensuring seamless recharge and non-stop power during daylight hours. This ensures the super HD footage can be recorded and viewed without the risk of the battery being drained, and residents can achieve visibility of their home anytime, anywhere, for greater peace of mind.

“With an additional compatible solar panel, residents can maximise the benefits of solar power and their home security solution. It’s the perfect home security solution for long weekends, holidays, or any day of the week, particularly leading into the longer nights and darker winter days.”

This offer is open to Australian residents who purchase one of the eligible Uniden App Cam Solo PRO 2K security cameras in person or online from an authorised participating Australian retail outlet or online store during the promotional period (1 June to 31 December 2023).

The Promotion is valid for App Cam SOLO PRO 2K Range of Security Cameras (Single, Twin and Quad Packs)

For full terms and conditions, or for customer redemption, visit: www.unidenpromotions.com.au

[1] https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/break-ins-increase-after-record-low

American Express announces the return of its Backing International Small Restaurants grant program in partnership with the International Downtown Association Foundation and the support of Restaurant & Catering Australia.

The program aims to support small independent restaurants with community significance, as they navigate the challenges of the current economic climate. Additional consideration will be given to restaurants operated by underrepresented and/or economically vulnerable members of the community.

Six Sydney restaurants will each receive $21,000 in grant funding to invest in the ongoing success of their business. All small independent restaurants in Sydney are encouraged to apply – especially those who are anchors within their local community and are facing hardship.

Naysla Edwards, Vice President of Brand, Marketing and Member Experience for American Express Australia and New Zealand, said: “Many small restaurants that are pillars of their local community are doing it tough right now and need extra support. This program aims to help alleviate some of the financial pressure they’re facing so that they can continue to do what they do best – deliver extraordinary food and experiences for their customers.” 

David Downey, Executive Director, IDA Foundation said, “We recognise the vital role that small, independent restaurants play in our communities. This program is a demonstration of our commitment to supporting these businesses and helping them thrive and succeed in the wake of ongoing economic challenges worldwide. It is an honour to implement this innovative work with the generous support of American Express.”

Suresh Manickam, CEO of Restaurant & Catering Australia said: “This will provide much-needed financial relief to restaurant businesses across Sydney. We are proud to support a program that contributes to the ongoing prosperity of restaurant businesses and recognises the vital contribution they bring to the vibrancy and appeal of Sydney.”

This is the second consecutive year Backing International Small Restaurants has run in Sydney, with year-one focusing on the historic Rocks area. Sydney is one of five major cities involved. Others include Mexico City, London, Tokyo and Toronto. To date, American Express has provided grants to more than 100 restaurants globally through this program and its U.S. Backing Historic Small Restaurants program.  

Backing International Small Restaurants builds on American Express’ efforts to support small businesses year-round, including through its annual Shop Small campaign, a global movement that shines a spotlight on small businesses, American Express Delicious Month Out and other global “Backing Small” programs. 

To learn more about Backing International Small Restaurants, including eligibility and to apply, visit downtown.org/event/bisr. Applications close 8 July 2023.